Rising Tide Volleyball:

2026-27 Club Season FAQ

Welcome to the quick-reference FAQ guide for the Rising Tide Volleyball 2026-27 club season. Below you will find essential information regarding teams, financial commitments, club policies, and player expectations.

🏐 Club Overview & Programs

Who do I contact for general questions or club information?

You can contact Club Director Julie Bigger by phone at 607-316-6804 or via email at risingtidevb@gmail.com.

What is the difference between Premier and Performance teams?

Premier Teams: Built for athletes demonstrating the highest current level of skill, athleticism, volleyball IQ, and commitment. These teams have a maximum of 10 players, follow a demanding training schedule (3 practices per week), and compete in 9–10 of the most challenging events available.
Performance Teams: Designed for highly competitive athletes focused on development and growth. They take up to 12 players, receive the same quality coaching, practice 3 times per week, and play in 6–7 tournaments.

Who handles team selections?

Team selections are made collectively by the entire coaching staff. Upon accepting a spot, parents and players are expected to respect and support the placement decisions for all athletes in the program.

When will team coaches be announced?

Once all teams are created after tryouts, coach assignments will be finalized.

When will practice schedules be posted?

Schedules will be posted as soon as gym space is secured. At a minimum, the club will release a full month's schedule during the preceding month.

Where are the practice facilities located?

Practices are held at the Hardeeville Rec Center (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM), Bluffton Rec, Bluffton Boys and Girls Club, and River Ridge.

Pre-tryout evaluations, Tryouts and Make-ups

Pre-tryout evaluations will be held July 13-16. If you are new to the club, it is highly recommended that you attend. Tryouts are July 18 and 19th. Make-up date is August 9th, times are TBD. IF YOU PLAN ON ONLY ATTENDING THE MAKE-UP DATE YOU MUST NOTIFY US and sign up BEFORE Tryouts on July 18. You must attend at least one tryout date to be eligible for a team.

💰 Dues, Financials, & Assistance

What are the club dues and payment schedules for the season?

All club dues must be paid through the BYGA app via autopay with absolutely no exceptions (though you will not incur any credit card fees).

Team Level

Total Dues

Non-Refundable Deposit (Paid ASAP to secure you position)

Payment Deadlines

Premier

$4,400

$1,100 (Due upon accepting spot)

$1,100 on Nov 1st, Jan 1st, and Feb 1st

Performance

$2,500

$1,000 (Due upon accepting spot)

$750 on Nov 1st and Jan 1st

12 & Under

$1,000

$250 (Due upon accepting spot)

$250 on Nov 1st, Jan 1st, and Feb 1st

Note: Club dues do not include travel expenses to and from tournaments or hotel accommodations.

What is the club's refund policy?

Club dues are strictly non-refundable.
If an athlete suffers a season-ending injury, a prorated refund will be issued.
If a player voluntarily leaves the team, no refund or credit will be granted.
There are no credits given for missed practices or tournaments.

Does the club offer any discounts or financial assistance?

Multiple Player Discount: Families with more than one child participating in the program receive 10% off their total dues (note: this does not apply to the 12 and under division).
Scholarships: Eight half-scholarships are available each season. Applications can be found on the club website, and recipients are chosen via a vote by the Rising Tide Scholarship Committee.
Financial Hardship: If your family experiences financial hardship, you can contact Dan at danrisingtide@gmail.com to set up a confidential payment arrangement.
Team parent: Performance teams receive $250 off while, Premier receives $500 off

🛑 Player & Parent Expectations

Can players participate in school sports alongside club volleyball?

Yes, Rising Tide supports dual-sport athletes. However, you must provide your schedule to your coaches as soon as possible. Athletes are expected to remain equally dedicated to both sports; missing practices continuously impairs team cohesion and will result in a decrease in tournament playing time.

What is the tournament dress code policy?

Players must wear their designated Rising Tide gear and dress identically in all layers at tournaments and hotels.
Girls must wear black spandex; boys must wear black shorts.
Absolutely no pajama pants are allowed; players must wear black shorts or black sweatpants over their spandex.
If a player forgets any piece of their mandatory gear (jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or 1/4 zips), they will not be permitted to play.

When are players allowed to leave a tournament?

No player is permitted to leave a tournament until the team's final work assignment is fully completed and the coach has officially released the team—even if that specific player was not personally assigned to work.

What hotel rules apply to tournaments?

Stay to Play: For certain required tournaments, you must stay at the designated host hotel unless explicitly cleared by your Head Coach and the Club Director.
All Other Tournaments: Team Moms will secure hotel blocks, and players are required to stay at the chosen team hotel unless an alternate arrangement is approved by the Head Coach and Club Director.
Travel Timing: Teams playing in morning (AM) waves must arrive at the hotel the night before competition starts; afternoon (PM) waves are permitted to drive in the morning of the tournament.

⏰ Attendance & Playing Time

What is the club's policy on playing time?

Premier Teams: The goal is to play to win; playing time is strictly earned and never guaranteed.
Performance Teams: On Day 1 of a tournament, everyone will get on the court, though playtime will not be equal. On Day 2, the philosophy shifts to playing to win, meaning the best players will see the court.

How should we handle concerns regarding a lack of playing time?

Coaches and the Club Director will never discuss playtime during a tournament, nor will they bypass the mandatory communication steps. Parents must wait 24 hours after a match to contact staff. The grievance chain must proceed as follows:

The player must speak directly with the coach to understand what they need to work on to earn more court time.
If unresolved, a meeting may be scheduled between the player, parents, and both the Head and Assistant Coaches.
If still unresolved, a final meeting can be requested with the player, parents, coaches, and the Club Director.

What is the attendance policy?

All scheduled practices, weekend skills sessions, and tournaments are mandatory. Any planned absences must be submitted to the coaches in writing more than a week in advance. Poor attendance will directly impact an athlete's playing time, regardless of the underlying reason.

📣 Sponsorships & Fundraising

What are the requirements for team fundraising?

All athletes are required to participate in exactly one team fundraiser. The proceeds are split evenly: 50% goes directly to the club, and 50% goes to the team for fun activities.

How do business sponsorships work?

Sponsorships must be submitted by December 1st. 70% of the money raised is credited directly toward your personal club dues, while 30% goes to the club. If you happen to raise more than your total dues amount, the excess funds stay with the club. Business names, logos, addresses, contact information, and desired t-shirt sizes should be emailed to Kayla Braxton at kbraxton081308@icloud.com.

Sponsorship Tiers include:

Gold ($1,000): Platform-wide website promotion, home page listing, logo on travel shirts, and 2 free logo shirts.
Silver ($500): Platform-wide website promotion, sponsorship page listing, logo on travel shirts, and 1 free logo shirt.
Bronze ($250): Logo on the website sponsorship page and a social media thank you.
Diamond ($100): A thank you listed on both the club website and social media pages.

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